Metal halide lamp with frame members

Abstract

A quartz protective sleeve surrounding a ceramic metal halide arc tube is supported by a pair of frame members received inside the sleeve. A short frame member extends only partially into the sleeve, while a long frame member extends through the sleeve and includes a loop which engages a dimple at the top of the lamp envelope. The sleeve is fitted over the frame members, which are spring loaded apart. Axial positioning may be provided by terminals or other features fixed to the frame members. In an alternative embodiment, shoulders for positioning the sleeve and terminals for connecting to the arc tube are formed integrally with the frame members.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lamp of the type comprising a light source having a pair of opposed leads, a protective sleeve around the light source, said sleeve having a pair of opposed ends, a metal frame supporting said sleeve, and a glass envelope, wherein said frame comprises a pair of frame members received inside said protective sleeve, one of said frame members extending through said sleeve. 
     
     
       2. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein said frame members have respective portions which are substantially parallel inside of said protective sleeve. 
     
     
       3. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein said frame members are spring loaded outward against said protective sleeve. 
     
     
       4. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein said light source is a metal halide arc tube. 
     
     
       5. A lamp as in claim 4 wherein said arc tube comprises an aluminum oxide envelope and a metal halide filling. 
     
     
       6. A lamp as in claim 1 further comprising a pair of terminals connected to said leads of said light source, said terminals being fixed to said frame members. 
     
     
       7. A lamp as in claim 6 wherein one of said terminals extends laterally of the respective said frame member and bears against an end of said protective sleeve. 
     
     
       8. A lamp as in claim 1 further comprising a getter fixed to one of said frame members, said getter bearing against one of said ends of said protective sleeve. 
     
     
       9. A lamp as in claim 1 further comprising a glass stem in which said frame members are embedded. 
     
     
       10. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein said envelope has a top end with an internal dimple, said one of said frame members extending through said protective sleeve having retention means integral therewith for cooperating with said dimple to fix the position of said one of said frame members with respect to said envelope. 
     
     
       11. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein said one of said frame members is a long frame member, and the other of said frame members is a short frame member which extends only partially into said protective sleeve. 
     
     
       12. A lamp as in claim 11 wherein said long frame member is formed with a pair of shoulders, each said shoulder bearing against a respective end of said sleeve to position said sleeve with respect to said long frame member. 
     
     
       13. A lamp as in claim 12 wherein said short frame member is formed with a shoulder which bears against one of said ends. 
     
     
       14. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said frame members is formed with an integral shoulder which bears against one of said ends of said protective sleeve. 
     
     
       15. A lamp as in claim 14 wherein each of said frame members is formed with a shoulder which bears against a respective said end of said sleeve. 
     
     
       16. A lamp as in claim 11 wherein at least one of said frame members is formed with an integral terminal which is connected to a respective said electrode. 
     
     
       17. A lamp as in claim 16 wherein each of said frame members is formed with an integral terminal which is connected to a respective said electrode. 
     
     
       18. A lamp comprising a light source having a pair of opposed leads,   a protective sleeve around the light source, said sleeve having an upper end and a lower end,   a metal frame supporting said sleeve, said frame comprising a pair of frame members received inside said protective sleeve, each said frame member having an integral shoulder which supports said lower end of said sleeve.